Double yellow lines by Cheltenham school are ignored by motorists
DANGEROUS and inconsiderate parkers are being warned not to park on double yellow lines near Benhall schools.
After a five-year campaign, residents were celebrating when the new lines were painted around St Mark's Church of England Junior School and Benhall Infants.
But concern is growing in the community as drivers are accused of flouting the parking restrictions and blocking drives.
Gloucestershire County Council painted the new lines on Robert Burns Avenue, Colesbourne Road, Nettleton Road and Willersey Road just before Christmas last year.
Councillor Jacky Fletcher (C, Benhall and the Reddings) said she feared the move would be a waste of money without enforcement. She said: "I do not think people realise they are parking illegally when they stop on the zig-zag lines.
"It is dangerous and a nuisance and people just need to think about road safety first. This is getting past a joke.
"I have had lots of complaints and when they were put in I said it would be a waste of money if they were not enforced. The problem is worse in the mornings and during the afternoon when parents are on the school run.
"I am assured that from this week, now that the schools are back, it will be monitored closely and those breaking the law will be issued with tickets."
John Grover, chairman of Benhall Residents' Association, said he had received complaints with residents reaching breaking point over the issue.
He said: "We still have arrogant parents who insist on parking on double yellow lines zig zag lines and across people's drive entrances as if they have a right to do so.
"When we were fighting for the lines, we were told we could not have them because there had not been an accident in the area. Now we have got the lines, nobody is doing anything.
"The double yellow lines certainly have improved the area and some people are taking notice, but some people are unfortunately still ignoring them. The residents are really getting fed up of it now."
Cheltenham Borough Council's enforcement team are in charge of issuing illegal parkers with penalties.
Owen Parry, head of integrated transport and sustainability at the borough council, said: "We are aware that there are parking issues in this area and we will let the enforcement team know."
5 Comments
by L_escalier
Wednesday, February 22 2012, 12:49PM
“I suppose Gloucester City Council's parking administration address isn't very relevant to this story.
Cheltenham's is parking@cheltenham.gov.uk”
by CKGirl
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 1:31PM
“It would be truly wonderful if people could stop parking on the double yellows by the post office in town, and almost blocking off the whole of one side of the carriageway!”
by L_escalier
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 1:08PM
“Zig-zag lines beside zebra crossings are the responsibility of the police (even though, as I'm sure some are sick of hearing from me, a policeman told me that any officer passing might surmise that a car was parked on such lines due to an 'emergency', and thus ignore it).
Yellow zig-zag lines are displayed outside schools but, as I've discovered, it's entirely up to the discretion of the parking authority and the police whether they enforce these areas or not.
http://tinyurl.com/3r49z85
There is a thing called a Traffic Regulation Order which would theoretically allow greater penalties to be imposed, but my queries on whether parkingadmin (managed, last I heard, by Heather Clarke) would implement this at my children's school have been ignored.
If anyone else would like to ask about this for their own areas, the address is parkingadmin@gloucester.gov.uk
By the way, my partnership no longer has a Parking Action Group, because the leader and, apparently, sole member of it has decided - now that he's Conservative councillor for our area and has a place on the committee on that basis - that it isn't needed anymore. Needless to say, given various current disputes over parking, I think it still is, and will be looking to restore it, with the support of other residents.”
by TIMONLINE2010
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 9:26AM
“A familiar story - Owen Parry's dept are partiocularly bad at enforcing parking restrictions and don't appear to have any plans to improve. Zig-zag lines are, however, the responsibiity of the police.”
by Alfredo_
Tuesday, February 21 2012, 8:33AM
“If people don't realise that they're parking illegally on zig-zag lines then they should be charged with driving without due care!”